FeedsWorkshop offers parents de-stressors
The Van Buren Public Schools Parent Involvement Facilitators will present a free program for parents starting next week.
The eight-week program will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. on Jan. 13 at Rawsonville Elementary School. The Parent Plus program is designed to help parents develop skills to assist their children in coping with the stresses that affect families today, such as unemployment, illness or death of a loved one, according to Cathy Bandy, a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) facilitator with the school district.
“This seems relevant now with the way the economy is, but it’s relevant anytime,” she said. “It’s part effort to provide opportunity for education and for parents to have the opportunity to develop skills and issues their kids are dealing with.”
Jeanne Knopf, trainer who works with the program, said it shows parents how they can balance life stressors or risk factors.
“Research shows that the greater the number of protective facts, the larger the cushion the child will have when the child experiences stress,” she said. “When parents offer such protection, they increase the likelihood that their children will learn healthy coping strategies to complete life tasks successfully.”
Parents will meet for up to eight sessions—Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 24 and March 3 and 17—to hear information on family/children and stress, feelings and emotional development, supporting healthy behaviors, healthy family life, helping children grow, building self esteem and affirming one another.
The workshop will allow focus on one topic, which can be beneficial for the community to attend one or all, Bandy said.
“It’s geared toward elementary-aged kids, but the hope is to put it out that it’s open to anybody who feels they would benefit,” she said. “The stressors are out there.”
Kim Nofz, also a PTO facilitator for the school district, said right now people are not aware of how much the stress they are experiencing is affecting children.
“I hope parents come out and see they have a need for this,” she said. “Everybody should come, parents, grandparents, anyone who’s raising kids and having stress.
“People can pick and choose, they don’t have to go to all of them,” she added.
Each person will receive a parent manual. Childcare will also be provided if parents cannot make other arrangements.
To register or for more information, contact Bandy or Nofz at (734) 697-9123 ext. 230 or email parentinvolvement@vanburenschools.net.
